Online gambling has been banned - finally. It is probably the complexities around licensing these virtual establishments that has made these unlawful. 

A court ruling has at last helped to clarify the status of on-line gambling in South Africa. While on-line gambling has never been legal, radio, television and Web-sites all carried large amounts of expensive advertising for on-line gambling establishments. Banks were quite happy to facilitate payments to these on-line casinos. 

A number of MyDL bloggers have been going to great lengths in attempt to revive MyDL from the slump that has seen the number of hits (visitors) and the number of posts plummet over recent months. 

Whenever there is a strike in South Africa, a number of voices are heard, calling for a Maggie Thatcher hard line approach.

Forget about all the talk of recession. According to a number of the world's leading economists, we are now living through the second Great Depression. After a brief respite, the world's economies are set to plummet.
As long ago as 1997, British economist Fred Harrison predicted the current crisis. He places the blame on the prevalence of land and property speculation. The scenario painted in The Fred Harrison Blog is not a pretty one, but is one that must be taken seriously. Governments could fall, unemployment could rise dramatically and a depression could ultimately lead to World War III. Unfortunately, governments are not listening.

Back to posting frequent posts on MyDL has not resulted in lots of hits. Even though there does seems to have been an increase in activity on the site, the hits remain extremely low. Posting links on Twitter and elsewhere has made no difference. 

The government has offered 7% and a R700 housing allowance. The union is persisting with the demand for 8.6% and a R1000 housing allowance.

One of the solutions to the crisis re the teachers' salaries is to cut the size of the education department. 

I went for a general check-up yesterday morning. I was sent for chest xrays because I had been a smoker for so long. The xrays show very dark areas that should be my lungs. It reveals obstructed airways and the possible beginnings of emphysema.